Become a great outdoor children’s storyteller – We’d like to present you with a course that will greatly benefit your career!

There is almost no better place to do storytelling than out in nature.

Do you want to become a storyteller? These storytelling courses are for everyone…

Parents

Aunties, Uncles and Grandparents – not strictly a profession, but a crucial mentoring role!

Forest school leaders

Classroom teachers

Scout leaders and woodcraft folk

Home educating parents and families

Education for Sustainability programmes and NGOs

Childcare providers

Outdoor learning instructors

Play-workers

Conservation Rangers

Wildlife guides

Don’t worry if you do not have storytelling experience – it can be learned as long as you are willing go through the learning material and put it into enjoyable practice.

Being an outdoor storyteller has many benefits. Work when you want, and where you want.

Of course you may be naturally nervous when you first step out in front of your new audience. But practice will make you the master of this art of outdoor storytelling. You will be out in nature and feel more and more free and energised each time. Your students will have an unforgettable experience courtesy of you. Experience their faces light up as they listen to your every word, follow your every gesture and facial expression. You’ll grow in confidence. Get creative and expressive. You will be giving others joy and making wonderful memories that will last a lifetime. No matter where you are located, it’s time that you stepped through the door that leads to the magical kingdom of enchanting storytelling.

Chris Holland will be your teacher.

Chris Holland is a professional outdoor educator who specialises in storytelling. Chris has an environmental science and forestry school educational background.

Now Chris Holland has put together a series of outdoor storytelling courses.

Each course is aimed at providing playful outdoor learning.

There are storyboards all prepared for you to use. Mid-term plans for teachers. Tip and tricks. Learning activities and games for all ages. All the learning material that you need is provided – Chris Holland has done all the thinking for you!

You just need to be enthusiastic and ready to get down to a bit of fun learning. All courses can be learned from the comfort of your own home.

The storytelling course consists of 12 beautiful folklore tales. They can be purchased separately or all together as a bundle. There are also other separate courses such as ‘The Storyteller’s Playbook’ and nature-led stories for families.

The storytelling course choice is yours!

Make a rewarding career move and become a storyteller out in nature!

Once you have quickly gained confidence through the experience of having told the stories several times, you will be fully in control of a very rewarding job out in the fresh air.

Where can you find work as an outdoor storyteller?

If you are not yet working in a teaching environment, then consider going freelance. Become a self-employed storyteller. Advertise your outdoor storytelling services to schools and centres.

Outdoor storytelling is a part of forest school education

It’s wonderful to see that forestry schools are becoming extremely popular. These forestry schools will be needing the appropriate storytellers – you can be that person! Your audience is waiting for you. Tell all the forestry schools what you have to offer them. Let them know that you have learned from Chris Holland’s courses, a highly experienced outdoor educator and storyteller with an accomplished reputation. This beautiful form of storytelling is a much appreciated part of forest school education.

Choose a nice location along with the necessary permission to use it – the forest/woods. A leafy park. A beautiful field. Hire a rustic wooden cabin/hut. If you are already a school teacher, you could create your own enchanted space on school premises.

Connect with nature. Your audience awaits you.

By Robert Jakes – sculptor www.robertjakes.co.uk

Go straight to the official storytelling courses on Chris Holland’s official website, or you can find out more in our Blog Post using the appropriate links below…

Meet Chris Holland – Nature’s Storyteller

Chris Holland is an outdoor storyteller and educator.

Chris has preformed as a outdoor storyteller at festivals and in many schools throughout the United Kingdom.

He is an internationally known storyteller, author and educator. Chris certainly knows his stuff – In 1993 he gained a degree in Environmental Science, and also became a forestry school leader.

His storytelling subjects are around tales and fables that promote sustainability and speak of creation myths and tales of wonder. Earthly music enhances each story, aimed at connecting the listener with nature.

If you are interested in becoming an experienced outdoor storyteller, Chris has spent many years forming the necessary resources for you!

Outdoor storytelling

His material allows you to pass on holistic stories through play and observation. There are musical stories and many games that will connect all the listeners. Chris shares with you all that he has learnt. This first self-published book came out in 2009. It was called ‘I Love my World’. A fun, imaginative, hands-on guide to connecting with nature and full of practical ideas. This guide was used by both educators and parents in many countries.

Chris works on stories that allow the listeners to grow in courage, and form a deep connection with themselves and others. Many tales from around the world are told – Myths & fables from Europe, Africa, Australia. And from Native American history.

If you are an educator, or a parent wishing to dive into natural, outdoor storytelling, then these beautiful, one of a kind resources, kindly developed by Chris Holland are for you!

What some of the courses contain:

Storyboards.

Activities.

Mid-term plans.

Skill development

Tips’ n ticks’

Who are these outdoor storytelling courses directed at:

Parents

Aunties, Uncles and Grandparents – not strictly a profession, but a crucial mentoring role!

Forest school leaders

Classroom teachers

Scout leaders and woodcraft folk

Home educating parents and families

Education for Sustainability programmes and NGOs

Childcare providers

Outdoor learning instructors

Play-workers

Conservation Rangers

Wildlife guides

A great investment that can bring about a permanent change how every child views and treats the planet.

Courses start at as little as £10, but most courses are £30 – £40. And a special offer of £123 if you buy the lessons in a pack of 12. Some larger packs are £300. You get a savings discount on large packs (prices are in sterling)

This year long video based training and self development course gives you the tools and the confidence to tell great stories that engage all your listeners & gives you activities and ideas to inspire creative learning, both indoors and out.

It’s a course that is drip fed, month by month with videos, storyboards, tips and tricks, audio downloads, activity ideas, curriculum links and more! Priced at less than £4 per week – it’s amazingly good value.

Embedded within the stories are holistic principles of ecology, permaculture and wonder. These will develop a sense of curiosity, earth care and a loving respect for all beings.Certificated Professional and Self Development for:

Forest school leaders

Classroom teachers

Scout leaders and woodcraft folk

Home educating parents and families

Education for Sustainability programmes and NGOs

Childcare providers

Outdoor learning instructors

Play-workers

Conservation Rangers

Wildlife guides

Parents

Aunties, Uncles and Grandparents – not strictly a profession, but a crucial mentoring role!

A confidence building adventure in facilitating moments of natural connection and musical oneness.

This is PART ONE of a groundbreaking connective training journey that helps your musical self emerge, and transform into a more confident and skilled group facilitator, teacher, home educating parent or outdoor activity leader.

As used by the British National Parks Education Rangers team!

NO instruments required!

These activities help develop

Creativity

Belonging

Nowness

Flow states

Freedom of expression

Connection to self, each other and nature

Confidence

Fine and gross motor skills.

The following storypacks 1 – 12 contain a video of Chris Holland telling the story, the storyboard, bundles of outdoor learning ideas and Mid Term Plans, professional tellers tips and tricks, questions to unleash your storytellers voice… and more.

Not only does this bumper book of 224 pages contain all the ‘If You Give…’ stories, it also contains recipes, songs and activities! This ‘If You Give…’ treasury book is aimed at children from 4 – 8 years old.

This ‘If You Give A Mouse A Cookie – craft idea’ Blog Post is brought to you by…

Most of you already know the timeless story of by Micheal Rosen and Helen Oxenbury – ‘We’re Going On A Bear Hunt’

How about an easy craft to go along with the story?

For this craft/activity you do not need any complicated materials – it’s quite straightforward.

Make your very own Bear Hunt map/trail. Your trail will take you on a journey just like in the book. Walk through the long, wavy ‘swishy swashy’ grass. ‘Splash and splosh’ through the deep, cold river. Trudge through the thick, oozy mud that is so ‘Squelchy and squerchy’. ‘Stumble and trip’ as you venture into the big, dark forest. Get ready to battle through a whirling, swirling snowstorm as it goes ‘Hooo woooo’ around your ears. And, Uh-uh – time to ‘tiptoe, tiptoe’ into a narrow, gloomy cave. Who will you find in there! It couldn’t possibly be a bear could it!?

What you will need for this ‘Going On A Bear Hunt’ craft/activity…

Tools:

Scissors, preferably with a wavy edge (to form the wavy grass and the deep river.)

A small piece of green and blue paper/card to make the grass and the river.

A small piece of cardboard to make the cave.

A wad or ball of cotton wool.

A small picture of a bear. It’s best to laminate it so that it lasts longer.

Materials & tools that you will need for your Bear Hunt

Cut out your piece of brown paper (size 27 x 20cm approx.)

Using the black marker, draw your long, winding trail.

Write down the names of the places that you will pass – The Grass (place a strip of double-sided-sticky tape onto the paper) The River. The Mud. The Forest. The Snowstorm. The Cave. Remember to leave enough space between them!

Draw your trail, and the names. Put the sticky tape in place for the grass.

Cut out strips of long, wavy grass.

Cut out your river – place double- sided-sticky tape onto the back of it.

Tear the cotton wool to make several small puffs of snow.

Cut out your cave from the cardboard. Make a flap for the entrance to the cave if you wish. Place double-sided-sticky tape on just one side of the back of the cave.

Get your crayons ready

Place double-sided-sticky tape on the back of just ONE side of the cave

Stick the long strips of grass into place.

Colour the river to your liking and then stick it in place.

Colour your oozy mud.

Draw your forest.

Colour your snowstorm grey and white. Then glue the cotton wool over some of it to resemble snow.

Colour your cave. Only one side of the cave is stuck into place, so you can now slide your bear in and out on the other side.

Draw some scary bear footprints!

You can continue to make the other book characters if you like!

And now you have your very own ‘We’re Going On A Bear Hunt’ map/trail!

If you don’t already have the story book, then you can get it on Amazon…

Remember to double check which type of book you would like to have – A board book? – paperback? A sound book!? Pop-up edition? – With or without a c.d or dvd? There are even Bear Hunt puzzles and games! Enjoy your choices on Amazon.